Strong earthquake causes significant damage and injuries in Colombia
A powerful earthquake has caused significant damage in Colombia’s Pacific coast, officials say. Nubia Carolina Córdoba, governor Chocó province, said people had been injured but did not specify how many. She also said she was concerned about possible aftershocks. The magnitude-7.4 quake struck at 07:34 (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 96km (60 miles), Colombia’s…
A powerful earthquake has caused significant damage in Colombia’s Pacific coast, officials say.
Nubia Carolina Córdoba, governor Chocó province, said people had been injured but did not specify how many. She also said she was concerned about possible aftershocks.
The magnitude-7.4 quake struck at 07:34 (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 96km (60 miles), Colombia’s geological service said.
The quake comes less than two months after twin quakes devastated the north of neighbouring Venezuela, killing more than 6,100 people.
According to the US Geological Survey, which monitors earthquakes around the world, the epicentre of Monday’s quake was 5km east of the village of San José del Palmar.
Even though it was at a depth of 110km, it could be felt hundreds of kilometres to the east in the capital, Bogotá, where several buildings were evacuated.
Colombian newspaper El Tiempo shared footage it said was taken in the city of Manizales, in the country’s coffee region, showing a collapsed building and people shouting to those they fear could be trapped underneath.
Video posted on social media showed the collapsed spire of a church in Manizales.
A nearby building had deep fissured in its façade.
Journalists broadcasting live on news channel Caracol Radio described the furniture shaking in their studio in Bogotá.
Colombia’s aviation authority reported damage at several regional airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.
